Ferndale

Statement of Significance

ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE

The following aspects of the buildings are of significance.

(a) The plan form of the two houses and the elevational treatment identifying the place as
belonging to the early architectural tradition of the Western Australian country side.

(b) The rafter and shingle roofing under the iron cladding and the tie beam.5 visible

(c) inside room 1.
The coved ripple iron ceiling of rooms 10, 11 and 12.
(d) The wide butt jointed floor boards in each of the houses.
ll HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Ferndale was one of the earliest houses in the Balingup district. The property was first taken up by Walter Padbury who was prominent in many enterprises throughout the State. Later it was occupied for 50 years by the Somerset family. The house together with the farm buildings demonstrate a past way of life.

ll ENVIRONMENTAL IMPORTANCE

The homestead and other buildings are set in an impressive landscape with extensive views over the river valley. The houses are set in the remnants of a beautiful garden with numbers of exotic trees, a grove of walnuts and a forest of poplars nearby.

E

Physical Description

The homestead complex is adjacent to the junction of Hay Road and the Balingup-Nannup Road. The buildings stand on a flat portion of land high above the spacious flood plains of the Blackwood River. There are a number of exotic trees scattered about the house and a grove of walnut trees at the entrance to the site.
The homestead complex consists of two houses set at right angles to each other and almost joined by timber framed additions, a workman's room, a large shed and timber clad farm buildings and stock yards.

Rooms 1& 2 (see plan) comprise one house while rooms 6 to 14 comprise the other. Rooms 3, 4 and 5 form a linkage between the two and were apparently added on later. bathroom.

Rooms 1and 2 are of Flemish Bond brickwork, painted externally and rendered internally. Room 1has no ceiling and the rafters, close spaced battens and shingles are exposed to view. Room 2 has a boarded coved ceiling. The roof is gabled and the roof covering of Zincalum corrugated iron has recently been fixed to replace and earlier covering. The flooring is 172 mm wide butt jointed boards.

The house comprised of room 6 to 14 is of brick walls rendered in a cement render in parts lined out to simulate stonework. The external walls to room 8 are timber framed and contain glass louvres. Rooms 10, 11 and 12 have ripple iron ceilings coved to the shape of the hip roof over.

The walls to Room 9 have been battened and lined with fibrous plaster lining with cover battens over the joints. The ceilings are of the same material. Room 6 is fitted out as a bathroom with Tilux sheeting.

The roof is corrugated galvanised iron hip roof over the central core - rooms 10, 11 and 12. The pitch of the hip roof is carried down over the minor rooms and vera ndah surrounding the central core - rooms 6, 7, 13 and 14. Room 9 has a hip roof independent of the roofing system described above.
THE MA N'S ROOM: The room is of Flemish Bond brickwork about 4m x 4m with a pyramid roof which was shingled some 10 years ago. It is some 80 metres to the south west of the house.

THE LARGE SHED: This shed is some 30m x lOm. It is framed up with round poles reminiscent of telegraph poles and is quite high. It has a galvanised corrugated iron roof and galvanised corrugated iron cladding on the side walls, the ends are open.

THE FARM BIJILDINGS AND STOCKYARDS: These were not inspected in detail but hoppers constructed on the south face of the building suggest that may have been associated with walnut production. More research into this aspect could uncover interesting material. The buildings are of unpainted weatherboard on timber framing with corrugated galvanised iron roof. The stockyards are of post and rail fencing.

History

Assessment 1993
Original Owner: Walter Padbury
Walter Padbury was one of the first to take up land in the Balingup district. This enterprise was part of a general movement of settlers south from Donnybrook into the Blackwood Valley in late 1850's. Amongst others in its southerly rush were the Hesters, Blechyndens and the Jones. Padbury's land was taken up in parcels between 1859 and 1878. He also took up a pastoral lease of 16,500 ha from which Ferndale and Brooklands was sub-divided. These properties were managed by Padbury's brothers Mark (Ferndale) and Edwin (Brooklands).

After the death of Mark Padbury in 1886 Ferndale was sold to W Wood and then to Harper and Grasby. The property was sub-divided into smaller fanns in 1920. Charles Somerset acquired the homestead farm and his family occupied it for 50 years. The house is also known as Somerset House. The Forests Department acquired the property in the early 1970'a for pine plantations and CALM, the Department's successor, has until recently kept a caretaker in residence.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.